TV Networks Censor Anti-War Ads

"The political battle over the Bush administration's planned war in Iraq is filtering down to impact the U.S. media and advertising industry. A growing number of groups opposed to the war allege cable networks are censoring citizens' political views by refusing to accept placements of their anti-war TV ads. Some peace groups are thwarting the networks' rejection by buying local time in major cities for the same anti-war ads. One set of spots seen last week in Washington feature Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, co-founders of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, and were produced for TrueMajority.org by Too Much Media. Mr. Cohen, who has been active in efforts by True Majority and the Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities, expressed dismay last week that CNN would not allow True Majority to buy time on Larry King Live. He said one spot that was rejected by CNN features actress Susan Sarandon asking former U.S. Iraq ambassador Ed Peck, 'Before our kids start coming home from Iraq in body bags and women and children start dying in Baghdad, I need to know what did Iraq do to us?' "